Growing up in Bishop, California, you really get a chance to explore many outdoor activities such as fishing, hunting, hiking, mountain climbing, skiing, snowboarding and so much more.
But there is a flip side to the thrills of outdoor sports. It’s easy to get in an accident and seriously injure yourself or be present when someone else is injured.
In 2001, I was invited to participate in a wilderness first aid class in Yosemite National Park. The class was a two-week-long deep dive into outdoor/backcountry first aid. Mornings were spent in a classroom setting learning about first aid, and then you would have the afternoons and evenings to put what you learned into practice.
The next step is called scenarios, where you are given an index card that would let you know if you were a responder or a casualty in the first aid role play.
This was a great way to understand what the situation would feel like in real life because it puts you in the role of somebody needing to put their new skills to use. When the responders would find the casualty, they would follow what the card said to perform so the responders could assess the situation and make the right diagnosis in order to help. This practice took up about five days.
Overall, participating in that first aid course was one of the most fun and informative things I had the pleasure of doing when I was a young adult. I made friends that have lasted through the years. We all have families now, and we still meet up to do outdoor activities. The wilderness first aid training was the thing that brought us together and taught us how to keep each other safe.
Since moving to Idaho, I have found it reminds me a lot of my hometown. Here, we have the same access to outdoor recreation and many ways to explore the wilderness. I’m filled with joy watching my kids grow, seeing how much they enjoy the outdoors and all the many activities that are a part of the Idahoan outdoors.
When I first heard the Student Recreation Center at The University of Idaho was offering wilderness first aid classes to students, I was excited to see what times they were and how much they would cost.
Desert Mountain Medicine partners with the University to help put on the wilderness first aid courses.
The courses are very specific to backcountry recreation for the Pacific Northwest. There are many courses offered, ranging from a whitewater kayaking clinic to backpacking trips.
Trevor Fulton, director of Outdoor Programs at UI, said with more students getting outdoors and enjoying all that Idaho and Washington have to offer, now would be a great time for students to come down and discover all the SRC has to offer. Depending on what course you choose to take, you might even be eligible to receive credit as a special elective.
A full course usually takes about 80 hours. However, there is also a 30-hour online course with five days of in-person instruction. Fulton said they currently have an average of eight students in a class, but for the summer they are expecting they can safely host up to 12-20 students per class. Fulton said participants of the classes should expect to be challenged about their current knowledge of first aid and discover some new techniques.
The cost of classes at the SRC can be a low as $70 per person, but an average cost of first aid classes will likely run around $250 to $300. Included in the cost is a certificate for wilderness first aid, a CPR card and depending on the class, you can be trained in wilderness anaphylactic procedures. All of these come with a two-year endorsement.
Another great advantage of these courses is, if you know your certificate is about to expire, you can take a refresher course instead of the full course to renew it. This keeps you certified and still gives you the freedom to enjoy the great outdoors safely. If you are not sure you really want to do a full course of 80 hours or even 30 hours, you can sign up for a weekend experience and give it a try.
One thing I can say from personal experience is these courses are invaluable. You will learn basic life support skills, be able to help others caught in dire situations and gain valuable experience in triage.
These courses will give you a glimpse into real-life situations and they can help you far beyond just the medical experiences. You will learn to remain calm in high-stress situations. For those who would like to take the courses but find the prices are too high, Fulton said there are several scholarships available to help cover costs.
As spring and summer approach, seek out the REC Center and find what activity you feel is best for you. I can guarantee you will make memories that will last a lifetime. Who knows, you might even make friends that last just as long.
Rick Sperry can be reached at [email protected]